Sorting machine



Feb. 9, 1943. H, E.l V511' 2,319,661

soRTING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1940 4 Sheets-sheet 1 gms/whom n, M W m A n X f Feb. 9,1943. H. E. vsn' soRTING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 9, 1943. v Hv E VEIT 2,310,661

' l SORTING MACHINE l y Filed May 14, 1940 v 4 sheets-,shea 3 Feb. 9,` 1943. Hav-EIT SORT'ING MACINE Filed May 14, 1940 -4 sheets-sheep;

Patented Feb. 9, 1943 SORTIN G MACHINE Herman E. Veit, Parkville, Md., assignor to The Glenn L. Martin Company, Baltimore, Md.

Application May 14, 1940, serial No. 335,042

(ci. zoo-90)' 20 Claims.

The invention relates to machines and processes forsorting fasteners, and particularly to machines for sorting rivets or the like in accordance with the shape of their heads.

In modern factory practise, rivets are sent out from the stock room to various parts of the plant. Many of these rivets are dropped, and some are not used. All such dropped or unused rivets, of whatever size or type, are collected together and returned. This mixed mass of rivets must be separated, both as to length and as to type. laborious process when carried out by hand.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine which automatically separates dierent types of rivets.

The most common types of rivets are .those having round and countersunk fheads,and the object of the linvention is to separate rivets in accordance with these two types of heads.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective machine for accomplishing this result.

Still another object is to provide auxlia spring mechanism for tilting rivets of these two types in opposite directions so that they may be more easily assorted.

K'Ihe invention includes a slot, preferably formed by two parallel endless bands, within which the stems of the rivets extend as they are fed to the separating mechanism. An additional object of the invention' is to provide a novel arrangement for properly positioning the rivets in the slot. 4

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully 'from the following description, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1 shows in side elevation a machine embody the invention:

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

This separation is a tedious and The machine which embodies the invention disclosed herein includes a frame 2 adapted to rest on a suitable surface. At each end of the frame are shafts 4 and 6 on which are mounted wheels 8 and I0 respectively. Each of these wheels is in the nature of a pulley, and the wheels support two parallel endless belts I2 which are formed of steel or some other suitable material.

The wheels are slightly spaced so that between.

' once -arranged with their stems in the slot and Fig. a is a cross section on the une :'-s of Fig'.

2, with parts broken away;

F'ig. 4 is a view froml the lefthand end of .1: l l Fig. 5 is \a cross section on the line 5 5 of Fia-2: 1 F1gs. 6 and 7 are detail views of a portion of Fig. 3 showing the sorting means in operation on round head and countersunk rivets respecl tively; and v- Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the agitating plate for the hopper.

their heads resting on-the two belts.

The machine may be driven iny any suitable manner, as for example by a crank I6 rigid on the shaft 6.

4 'Ijhe rivets to be separated are fed to the belts by a hopper I8. Means are provided for constantly agitating the rivets in the hopper and for preventing rivets from escaping from the hopper unless they are properly arranged be#- tween the two belts. Slidably mounted in the frame 2 vby a slot I9 engaging bolts 2| is a bar 2li which at one end extends intr the path of a series of pins 22 spaced around the outer face of a wheel23 mounted on shaft 4. The bar 20 is urged in'the direction of the wheel by a tension spring 2| connected to the frame 2 and to a projection 26 of the bar, so that normally the bar 20 will be moved to the left in Fig. 3. Obviously pins 22, as the wheel 23 turns inthe dil rection of the arrow, willr strike the bar and push it to the right in Fig. 3, and will then pass below the bar whereupon the spring 24 will ,draw the bar to the left until rit is engaged by the succeeding pin 22. The bar thus is given a reciprocatorymotion. v A

Secured on the bar and extending above` and across one of the belts -I2 is amemberll which at the center of the machine has a plate-like projection 30 extending into the bottomof the hopper I8. This projecting member is spaced above the belts I2fby approximately the thickness or` longitudinal dimension f a rivet head las shown in Fig. 3, and-thus it is impossible for a rivet to pass under the plate 30 unless its head is at on the belts, and therefore unless its stem is arrangedin-the slot Il.

The left-hand end (Fig. 3) of plate," is provided with two upwardly portions 3| forming a transverse groove therebetweemthis slight arc by the rivets.

turned upon themselves and some of them willfall into the proper position in slot I4 and will be fed out by the movement of the two belts in the direction of the arrow 36 beneath the Plate 30.

As is stated above, the present invention particularly contemplates the separation of round and countersunk head rivets. For this purpose therel is provided at the opposite ends of the belts, and adjacent the wheels I0, a pair of plates 40 having extensions 42 which are spaced apart by a space substantially equal to that of the slotV I4, as represented by the slot 44. The lefthand or inner ends 46 of extensions 42 are located close to but slightly spaced from the belts i2 where they pass aroundwheels I0, the space being slightly less than the longitudinal dimension, or. thickness, of the rivet head (indicated by t in Fig. 6). The plates 42 have some resiliency, so that the ends 46 may be moved in a The tips 46 are preferably not located directly above the axis of shaft 6, but somewhat to the outside thereof where the belts have started to curve as they pass around the wheels III. i

This mechanism alone, while not as desirable as the preferred form to be described below, is capable of separating round and countersunk rivets. As the rivets are moved along by the belts I2 with their heads resting on the belts and theirstems extending into the slot I4, they reach the position shown in Figs. 6 and 'l respectively for the round and countersunk rivets. As will be seen from Fig. 6, the round head rivet will strike the tip 46 of member 42 at a point on the `upper rounded surface of the rivet head. The inclination of this'rounded surface will force the tip 46 upwardly, and the round head rivet will pass thereunder and will drop into a suitable container 46 placed at the bottom of the wheel I0. On the other hand, as shown in Fig.

7. when a counterslmk rivet comes to the tip 46,

With such a machine, however, there is some possibility that the round yhead rivets may tilt so far that their under edge will catch over tips 46, or that the bevelled head rivets will fail to tip and their top edge will catch under the tips 46. In order to make certain that proper separation occurs, the preferred -form of the invention contemplates the provision of a single means which ,tilts round and countersunk rivets in the proper direction to be separated by the tips 46.

Across the belts I2 just in front of the tips 46 (to the left in Fig. 3) there is provided a bar 62 having mounted on its lower sideI a bentl piece 64 of resilient material such as spring steel.

Normally the free portion of. spring 54 above the belts I2 is spacedvfrom the belts by a distance somewhat less than the longitudinal dimension of the rivet heads. The eifect of this spring is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. When spring 64 is used,

ends 46 may be located adjacent belts I2 at s space substantially equal to the longitudinal thickness of the rivet heads so that the round head rivets may pass thereunder 'without contacting said ends.

As shown in Fig. 6, ifa roimd head rivet is passed through the machine, when it meets the spring 54 it will be pushed inwardly by such spring until it is directed radially towards the shaft 6. The eil'ect of this is to hold the head ilat against the belts, or at a slight inclination to the horizontal, so that as the head moves to the position opposite tip 46 it is certain to pass under this tip and thus to the container 4I.

On the other hand, when a countersunk rivet has passed until its center is slightly beyond the spring 54, the spring will exert a pressure on the rearwardly extending overhanging portion of the rivet head and will tilt it into the position shown in Fig. 7. In this position, the rivet is so far tilted that it must engage the tip 46 and thus be distributed to the container l0.

It seems obvious from the above that upon rotation of the handle I6- the' rivets will be agitated in the hopper I6 and will be arranged in proper position between the belts I2. The belts will then carry the rivets to the separating mechanism which will distribute the round head rivets toone container and the countersunk rivets to the other. f

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for separating round head and countersunk rivets, means forming a slot, means tofeed rivets along said slot with .their heads resting on said slot-forming means and,

their stems in the slot, and exible means having a portion adjacent to said slot-forming means l but spaced therefrom by a thickness not exceeding the longitudinal dimension ofthe rivet heads for removing the countersunk-rivets from said slot-forming means, while permitting round head rivets to pass.

2. In a machine for separating round head and counter-sunk rivets, means including at least one belt forming a slot, means to feed rivets into said slot with their heads resting on said belt and their stems in the slot, means to drive said belt, and exible means having a portion ad'- A not exceedingV the longitudinal dimension of the rivet heads for lifting the countersunk rivets .from

said belts.

4. In a machine for separating round'head and countersunk rivets, a pair of parallel belts 'form- 'ins a slot therebetween. means to drive said belts.

on said beits and their stems in the slot, and sexible means having a portionadjacent to said belts but spaced therefrom by a thickness not exceeding the longitudinal dimension of the rivet heads for lifting the countersunk rivets from said belts. 5. In a machine as claimed in claim 1, means adjacent said slot-forming means and in front of said flexible means for resiliently pressing on the heads of the rivets carried by said belts.

' 6. In a machine as claimed in claim 3, means adjacent said belts and in front of said flexible means for resiliently pressing on the heads of the l rivets carried by said belts.

7. In a machine as claimed in claim 3, a spring mounted above said belts closely in front of said flexible means, said spring being normally closer to said belt than the longitudinal dimensions of the rivet heads, so as to bear on said rivet heads, to hold round head rivets with their stems normal to the belt surfaces and to tip countersunk head rivets kwith respect to the belt surfaces.

8. In a machine for separating round head and countersunk rivets, two pairs of pulleys, a pair of parallel belts mounted on said pulleys forming a slot therebetween, means to feed rivets along said slot with their heads resting on said belts and their stems in the slot, exible means arranged adjacent to a portion of said belts passing around one pair of said pulleys, said exible means hav-` ing an end portion at a distance from the surfaces of said belts less than the longitudinal dimension of the rivet heads, and means to drive said pulleys whereby said end is engaged by the top surface of a round head rivet and pushed upwardly so that the rivet may pass therebeneath.z

whereas said end engages the undersurface ofv a countersunk rivet so as to transfer said rivet from said belts to said flexible means.

9. In a machine fo'r separating round head and countersunk rivets, a path of parallel belts forming a slot therebetween, means to move said belts so as to feed rivets along said slot with their heads resting on said belts and their stems in the slot, tongues of flexible material having a slot therebetween of substantially the same width as said first slot,v the ends of said tongues being arranged adjacent to said belts at a distance from the surfaces of said belts not exceeding the longitudinal dimension of therivet heads, means to\drive said belts in one direction,.said ends pointing in. the opposite direction to the direction of movement of said belts, whereby said round head rivets pass 11. In a machine as claimed in claim 9, means adjacent said belts and in front of said tongues for resiliently pressing on the heads of the rivets to the belt surfaces and to tip countersunk head rivets with respect to the belt surfaces.

13. In a machine as claimed in claim 3, sai I feeding means comprising a hopper having a por' tion above said belts and slot, a member slidable throughone wall of the hopper in a direction parallel to the direction of movement ofisaid belts, said member being spaced above said belts by a distance substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the rivet heads, and means to reciprocate said member.

14. In a. machine as claimed in claim 10, said feeding )means comprising a hopper having a portion above said belts and slot, a member slidable through one wall of the hopper in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said belts, said member Lbeing spaced above said belts by a distance substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the rivet heads and means to reciprocate said member, said means being connected to said belt driving means and comprising a slidable member, spring means urging lsaid member in one direction, and a wheel having pins thereon connected to said belt driving means .and engageable with said member to push it in the opposite direction.

15. Ina machine as claimed in claim l0, said feeding means comprising a hopper having a porbeneath said ends, whereas said ends engage the l undersurface of a countersunk rivet so as totransfer said rivet from said'belts into the slot between said members.

10. In a machine for separating round head and countersunk rivetsfa path of parallel belts form ing a slot therebetween, means to drive said belts, means connected to said belt-driving means to feed rivets into said slot with their heads resting on said belts and their stemsvin the slot, tongues of exible material having a slot therebetween of substantially the same width as said rst slot, the

A ends of said tongues being arranged adjacent to transfer said rivet from said belts into the sloty between said members.

tion above said belts and slot, a member slidable through one wall of the hopper in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said belts, said member being spaced above said belts ing a slot therebetween and means to drive said belts, means for feeding fasteners into said slot comprising a hopper having a portion above said belts and slot, a. member vslidable through one wall of the hopper ina direction parallel to the direction of movement of said belts, said'member being spaced above said belts by a distance substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the heads of the fasteners, and means to reciprocate said member.

I 17. In a machine having a pair of belts forming a slot therebetween and means to drive said belts, means for feeding rivets into said slot comprising a hopper having a portion above said belts and slot, a member slidable through one wall of the hopper in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said belts, said member being spaced above said belts by a distance sub? stantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the rivet heads, and means to reciprocate said member, said means being connected to said beltdriving means and comprisinga slidable member,

spring means 'urging said member in one direction, and a wheel having pins thereon connected to said belt-driving means and engageable with said member to push it in the opposite direction.

18. In a machine having a pair of belts forming a slot therebetween and means to drive said belts, means for feeding Vrivets into said slot comprising a hopper having a portion above said belts and slot, a member slidable through one wall of the hopper in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said belts, said member beingspaced above said belts by 'a distance substantially equal to the longitudinal dimension of the rivet heads, and means to reciprocate said member, said means being connected to said beltdriving means, a plate extending across said hopper, means mounting said plate for rocking movement at its top edge, and means connecting the bottom edge of said plate with said sliding member whereby reciprocation of said sliding member rocks said platel to agitate the rivets in said hopper.

19. In a machine for separating round head and countersunk rivets, two pairs of pulleys, a pair of parallel belts mounted on said pulleys forming a slot therebetween, means to feed rivets along said slot with their heads resting on said belts and their stems in the slot, and means adjacent to a portion of said belts passing around one pair of said pulleys to engage the heads of rivets and remove countersunk rivets only from said slot.

20. In a machine for sorting round head and countersunk head rivets, means forming a slot, means for feeding said rivets along said slot with their stems extending into the slot, means adjacent a portion of the slot, including means for tilting the countersunk rivets, and means for engaging the tilted heads of said countersunk rivets for removing the same from the slot, while permitting the round head rivets to pass.

HERMAN E. VEIT. 

